The Nigeria Police has defended its tinted glass permit policy after the NBA sued the IGP, insisting the regulation is legal, transparent, and vital for crime prevention
Tinted Glass Permits Are Legal, Transparent – Nigeria Police Responds to NBA Lawsuit
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has defended its tinted glass permit policy, describing it as lawful, transparent, and consistent with global best practices, amid a lawsuit reportedly filed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, dismissed claims questioning the legality of the policy, calling them “misleading” and a deliberate attempt to malign the image of the Police.
Citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, Hundeyin explained that Section 2(3a) empowers the IGP or his authorized officers to issue or approve permits for tinted glass usage. He added that Section 1(2) of the Act requires applicants to show “good cause” for approval, such as health or security needs.
“The essence of this regulation is consistent with the core mandate of the Police to prevent crimes, as the permit is a critical tool for curbing violent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and one chance operations,” the statement emphasized.
On the issue of fees, the Police clarified that charges are processing fees used to maintain digital infrastructure for service delivery. Hundeyin noted that the Nigeria Police Act 2020 (Section 26e and f) empowers the Force to render specialized services to the public at a fee.
He also highlighted successes of the Police’s Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), which he said has facilitated the recovery of several stolen vehicles nationwide.
“The alleged claims by individuals and groups that the tinted permit policy is not legal, transparent, and constitutionally valid are not only untrue and misleading but also a calculated attempt to cast aspersions on the image, integrity, and lawful operations of the Force,” Hundeyin added.
The IGP reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law, safeguarding citizens’ rights, and maintaining professionalism in policing, while assuring Nigerians of the Police’s dedication to building a safer, more secure, and transparent system.
